Chapter 250

Isabella was ready to knee John where it hurts if he even thought about hitting her, planning to make a quick escape from the banquet hall afterward.

With John and Bianca around, there was no way she could network at this party.

So, bailing out seemed like the best option.

But what she didn't see coming was someone stepping in to help her.

Joseph, with a calm smile, grabbed John's wrist.

"John, why are you throwing punches the moment you see me? Is there some kind of misunderstanding? We grew up together-surely we can talk this through." Joseph said, trying to keep the peace.

"Let go of my hand!" John snapped at Joseph.

Joseph, still smiling, let go but stood protectively in front of Isabella.

"Isabella's my guest. Lay a hand on her, and you'll be dealing with me. Trust me, You wouldn't like that." Joseph shrugged, looking a bit helpless.

John glared at Joseph and asked, "Are you really gonna protect Isabella?"

Joseph's smile disappeared, replaced by a determined look. "What if I am?"

The commotion drew the attention of more guests.

Some who knew John and Joseph started whispering among themselves.

"Isn't that the heir of the Williams Family and the second son of the Davis Family, the top two families among the big four? Why are they fighting?"

"See the woman behind Joseph? That's Isabella. She used to be John's fiancée. There were rumors about Joseph and her before. Looks like another love triangle drama."

"Wow, she's got two gorgeous guys battling it out for her affections! Lucky duck!"

"Have you noticed the other woman standing there? She doesn't look too happy."

The crowd's whispers shifted to Bianca, who was trying to keep her cool.

"Ah, it's a classic wife vs. mistress situation. The husband's siding with the mistress, which ticks off the wife, and now the wife's admirer is stepping in." Someone pieced it together.

This theory quickly gained traction among the guests.

John glared coldly at Joseph. Even though his family's power was a bit stronger than Joseph's, it wasn't worth it to clash with Joseph over Isabella.

"Enough, honey, let's go. I'm not feeling well, let's leave the hotel," Bianca said softly, taking John's hand.

The whispers around her had labeled her the mistress, which really annoyed her. She didn't want to stick around anymore.

John shot one last, bitter look at Joseph and Isabella.

"Hope you can protect her forever, and I hope you can keep hiding behind him just as long," John sneered, then left the banquet hall with Bianca.

Joseph didn't argue further with John. Instead, he turned to Isabella with a gentle look and asked, "Are you okay? Did you get hurt?"

Isabella, still composed, shook her head, "I'm fine, thanks for stepping in."

"It's all good. Like I said, you're my guest. If anything happened to you, I'd have a hard time explaining it to your husband," Joseph said, a touch of sadness in his eyes.

"Alright, let's not hang around here any longer. We haven't even had a chance to mingle with our new friends yet," Isabella said, moving further into the banquet hall, pretending not to notice Joseph's expression.

The crowd, who had been eager to watch the drama unfold, started to disperse.

They had been expecting a showdown between Joseph and John, but it ended just like that.

"I told you, Joseph's got a thing for Isabella, but it's clear she doesn't feel the same," someone whispered nearby.

Some women grumbled, "Why does Isabella get all the attention? Are her boobs bigger? Is her butt perkier? Am I not as attractive? Even Joseph can't resist her. What's her secret? If she doesn't want him, I'll gladly take him!"

Isabella, oblivious to the guests' thoughts, continued chatting with the businessmen, focused on making new connections and expanding her network.

Meanwhile, John and Bianca were waiting for their car at the hotel entrance.

John gently touched Bianca's cheek. "Still hurting? That damn Isabella was so ruthless. Do you need to go to the hospital?"

Bianca looked into John's concerned eyes, grabbed his hand, and smiled, shaking her head.

"It's okay, I'm used to it! Back when I was in a wheelchair, she didn't hold back on me. Now, even if I can't beat her, at least I can run away!" Bianca's joke only made John feel more heartbroken.

"Isabella is really despicable! If my grandfather hadn't always warned me not to mess with her, I would've dealt with her a long time ago!" John said, a hint of hatred in his eyes for both Isabella and Mason.

Bianca shook her head. "Forget the past. I'm healthy now, and we're focused on the future. Securing those three companies' shares will be a major blow to Isabella!"

John hugged Bianca tightly, his heart aching for this resilient girl.

Feeling John's warmth and his heartbeat, Bianca suddenly had an idea.

"Hey, we don't really need to go home. This car's nice, but a hotel bed's way more comfortable...and we're already at a hotel." Bianca said, blinking flirtatiously.

John immediately got what Bianca was hinting at.

Just then, the driver pulled up.

John waved to the driver. "Go to the pharmacy and get some anti-inflammatory ointment, then bring it to the hotel."

The driver nodded and drove off.

"Let's go," John said, hugging Bianca as they headed back to the hotel. But before they could get far, a loud explosion suddenly rang out.